Design of Wide Band Double Ridged Horn Antenna and Application in Microwave Absorbing Materials Measurement

In recent years, with the development of military stealth technology, and the affection of electromagnetic radiation on the human body in the life, more and more attentions have been paid to the microwave absorption materials. Therefore, the accurate measurement on properties of microwave absorption material becomes very crucial.The research and measurement of microwave absorbing materials can’t be carried out without participations of the wide band antenna. As receiving and transmitting devices, the wide band antenna has been becoming the necessary equipment in researching electromagnetic interference, electromagnetic compatibility measurement, passive measurement, surveillance and interference, so that the design of wide band antenna also becomes a necessary part. In order to meet different technical requirements and conditions, the ridged-horn antenna is widely used in a variety of fields, for its extremely wide frequency band and relatively flat high-gain, meanwhile, it owns the small size and could be installed easily.In order to meet the measurement needs of microwave absorbing materials in our laboratory, first of all, the design theory and method of wideband ridged horn are discussed in detail in the paper. In accordance with the actual situation of our laboratory, with the help of high frequency electromagnetic simulation software Ansoft HFSS, a double-ridged horn with a wide band frequency from1GHz to8GHz has been designed and made into the product. By testing the performance parameters of the VSWR and gain direction graph, we found that it has good electromagnetic properties. Finally we use the double ridged horn and standard horn antenna to measure the reflectivity of microwave absorbing materials separately in a arch measurement system, and analysis the two measurement results. The results show a significant consistency with the measurement data. So the wide band double ridged horn could meet the measurement application requirements, and completes established goals.